I'm a lost sheep

[Fakesmile]

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I've just recently decided to go into dentistry. I've read many posts on here but I'm really confused. I'd like to have some kind of a rough timeline that outlines when to do what? I'm going to apply next year. Thanks.

 

[angelnyc89]

You should take the pre-reqs:
1 yr of Biology
1 yr of General Chemistry
1 yr of Organic Chemistry
1 y of Physics
DATs
Shadow a Dentist
*Apply early*

 

[Fakesmile]

You should take the pre-reqs:
1 yr of Biology
1 yr of General Chemistry
1 yr of Organic Chemistry
1 y of Physics
DATs
Shadow a Dentist
*Apply early*

I should've been more clear, but I already have all those prereq's. I just want to have a rough outline of when to do what.
I still need to take the DAT. I haven't done any studying, and I don't know how to start. I'm hoping to self-study it without enrolling in any courses.

 

[jmt1984]

I will PM you

 

[hausee]

You should take the pre-reqs:
1 yr of Biology
1 yr of General Chemistry
1 yr of Organic Chemistry
1 y of Physics
DATs
Shadow a Dentist
*Apply early*

And most importantly, plan your LORs early!!!

 

[Fakesmile]

And most importantly, plan your LORs early!!!

I heard 3 LORs are needed (1 research PI, 1 science, 1 non-science). But can this combination of LORs be used for all schools?

 

[hausee]

I heard 3 LORs are needed (1 research PI, 1 science, 1 non-science). But can this combination of LORs be used for all schools?

I was told min 4 and the more the better. Not sure if PI's count and you also need one from dentist.

 

[Fakesmile]

I was told min 4 and the more the better. Not sure if PI's count and you also need one from dentist.

So the minimum 4 are from dentist, science prof, non-science prof, and who else?
Also, can you include LORs from your ECs?

 

[hausee]

So the minimum 4 are from dentist, science prof, non-science prof, and who else?
Also, can you include LORs from your ECs?

Two from science prof. Different school also has different requirement. You need to check it by yourself.

 

[doanh]

So the minimum 4 are from dentist, science prof, non-science prof, and who else?
Also, can you include LORs from your ECs?

Every school has a different requirement for LORs. Just look at what schools you want to apply to and plan accordingly.

Apply to about 10-15 schools or less if you feel confident.

Buy the ADEA guide to dental schools...it tells you the avg GPA, DAT, # of in state vs out of state, # applications, # acceptances, ethnicities of current students at each school.

 

[cjb04]

Check out predents.com to get an idea of what students get accepted to what schools. Apply EARLY in the cycle (early bird catches the worm), and as previously mentioned, have your profs/dentist get to writing your LORs a couple months before the cycle begins.

 

[icedspice]

Summer 2010
Shadow a dentist

Fall 2010:
Pick out profs for LORs, do WELL in the classes -- go to office hours and make sure the prof gets to know you really well!

Winter 2010-2011
Study for your DATs

Spring 2011
Pick out profs for LORs
TAKE your DATs as soon as you can. In case you are not satisfied with your score, you need to wait 3 months before you can sign another date. For example: Take DATs right after winter break on Jan 15th. You get a printed score, you dont like it--- the earliest you can REGISTER to take the DAT is April 15th. If you DO like it, you are doooone! 😀 😀

Taking it early in the semester is a smart choice so that 1. you can dedicate the summer towards your applications, no other stress. 2. you give yourself a chance to possibly take it in the future.... Many people do take their DATs in May -- but if they dont like their scores, they have to take it again in August and this delays their application (if not delay, then the school only sees their initial score, which may not be good)


Summer 2012:
Apply (Have all your LORs and personal statement ready. In that way, when application opens up, all you have to do is full in your biographical info, courses and your extra curriculars)

Hope that gives you more of a timeline. good luck 🙂

 

[goffdent]

So the minimum 4 are from dentist, science prof, non-science prof, and who else?
Also, can you include LORs from your ECs?

Some schools require only 3 LOR. You have to check with each school's requirement and make sure you use your AADSAS ones the most efficient way. BECAUSE, last year, i had 1 dentist, 2 science profs, and 1 employer LOR sent to AADSAS. Only 1 school needed a NON-SCIENCE prof (creighton), so i had him send it himself to that school only. ONly one school required an employer LOR (minnesota), but i figured that would be more helpful if sent to other schools, so i had that one sent through aadsas electronically. So be efficient and send your best/most helpful LORs through AADSAS since they are the easiest and cheapest way to send them out to many schools.

Some schools might want 2 science profs, 1 science prof, a non science... etc. It's probably best to just make a little spreadsheet of your schools and look them up individually. Do it right or you're wasting your own time and money as well as the people who are graciously writing you letters.

 

[Fakesmile]

Some schools require only 3 LOR.

I was told min 4 and the more the better.

Is it really true that the more LORs you send, the better? If so, then even if some schools need only 3 LORs, can you send them like 7 which includes the 3 minimum required LORs and 4 additional LORs from your extracurriculars?

 

[Fakesmile]

Bump. 🙂

 

[dentalWorks]

Since you have a year ahead of you... you can plan out your LOR attack. The SAFEST thing to do is to:
-obtain 2 LORs from 2 science professors
-obtain 1 LOR from 1 non-science professor
-obtain 1 LOR from 1 dentist
-(this one is optional) obtain 1 LOR from boss/ex-boss

I would suggest you start studying for the DAT this summer (if your free of course), why waste the golden 3 months of summer time on expensive hobbies like shooting off your handguns and hunting rifles (sorry drifting toward my hobbies here)

but seriously, relax, you got PLENTY of time a head of you, you've done most of your pre-reqs, you might be taking upper level sciences here and there (guessing here)..... But I strongly suggest you start studying for the DAT asap and taking it toward end of this august... this will remove a HUGE weight off your shoulders

Good luck to ya

 

[Fakesmile]

Since you have a year ahead of you... you can plan out your LOR attack. The SAFEST thing to do is to:
-obtain 2 LORs from 2 science professors
-obtain 1 LOR from 1 non-science professor
-obtain 1 LOR from 1 dentist
-(this one is optional) obtain 1 LOR from boss/ex-boss

I would suggest you start studying for the DAT this summer (if your free of course), why waste the golden 3 months of summer time on expensive hobbies like shooting off your handguns and hunting rifles (sorry drifting toward my hobbies here)

but seriously, relax, you got PLENTY of time a head of you, you've done most of your pre-reqs, you might be taking upper level sciences here and there (guessing here)..... But I strongly suggest you start studying for the DAT asap and taking it toward end of this august... this will remove a HUGE weight off your shoulders

Good luck to ya

Thanks for the suggestion. I've actually just decided to start studying for the DAT this summer. But I'm taking 4 courses this summer semester and I initially decided to take the DAT on January or March as suggested above, because I want to make sure I prepare for it so well that I'll score really high and won't have to retake it. But do you think it's not very hard to do well on it after only 3 months of studying? Please note that I didn't get straight As on the prereq science courses tested by the DAT, so obviously I'll have to spend more time studying than someone who did.

As for the LORs, there is no single prof I've consistently stayed in touch with for more than a year, though there are some profs I visited often during office hours while taking their courses and got As in their course. Ideally one should ask a prof who knows him/her really well and have a relationship history of like 2+ years, but should I be worried that I'm far from ideal?

 

[gauchoand]

My first year applying I had 7 letters..... 2 scie prof 1 non 2 dentists I shadowed 2 other doctors who were good friends of mine. Didn't get me in I know they weren't "bad" but weren't Wow letters either...

Second year 3 letters 1 genetics teacher (who I also knew out of school and rocked his class) 1 Zoology teacher that I also did research for and 1 dentist I shadowed 200+ hours and have know for 20+ years.

Quality over quantity.

1 interview first year 5 second (2 offers 2 waitlists 1 unknown)

 

[angelnyc89]

My first year applying I had 7 letters..... 2 scie prof 1 non 2 dentists I shadowed 2 other doctors who were good friends of mine. Didn't get me in I know they weren't "bad" but weren't Wow letters either...

Second year 3 letters 1 genetics teacher (who I also knew out of school and rocked his class) 1 Zoology teacher that I also did research for and 1 dentist I shadowed 200+ hours and have know for 20+ years.

Quality over quantity.

1 interview first year 5 second (2 offers 2 waitlists 1 unknown)

That has always been true IMO.

 

[Fakesmile]

Second year 3 letters 1 genetics teacher (who I also knew out of school and rocked his class) 1 Zoology teacher that I also did research for and 1 dentist I shadowed 200+ hours and have know for 20+ years.

Quality over quantity.

1 interview first year 5 second (2 offers 2 waitlists 1 unknown)

For the second attempt, didn't you also need 1 nonscience prof? How come you only had 2 science profs and 1 dentist?

Btw, I'm surprised by the fact that you and your dentist have a relationship history of 20+ years! How was that possible?

 

[journeybegins]

For the second attempt, didn't you also need 1 nonscience prof? How come you only had 2 science profs and 1 dentist?

Btw, I'm surprised by the fact that you and your dentist have a relationship history of 20+ years! How was that possible?

I'm interested in knowing the first question, too.

I'm in the same situation as Fakesmile, where I also have a year to prepare.
I was mainly thinking for letters of rec: 2 science professors & 1 dentist.

Would anyone know which schools require a non-science professor?

 

[gauchoand]

Well I only sent out those three letters. I never had anyone except minnesota ask for another letter(employer lor). There might have been some problems with some schools as I did apply to 12 schools. But I never asked the schools who rejected me If I was missing anything. After that first attempt at letters I pretty much had the feeling that I could get as many letters as I wanted but I doubted that adcoms ever sat down to read more then 1 or 2 of them.

As far as the dentist. He was a neighbor of mine attended the same church was my dentist as a child and I'm a little older then most other applicants (28) Really he knew my parents better then me for those years.

 

[Fakesmile]

Well I only sent out those three letters. I never had anyone except minnesota ask for another letter(employer lor). There might have been some problems with some schools as I did apply to 12 schools. But I never asked the schools who rejected me If I was missing anything. After that first attempt at letters I pretty much had the feeling that I could get as many letters as I wanted but I doubted that adcoms ever sat down to read more then 1 or 2 of them.

Didn't you think it was a bit risky for you to have sent just 3 letters to ALL the schools you applied to without checking each school's LOR requirement? You just wasted your money applying to schools that required more than 3 LORs.

 

[gauchoand]

Didn't you think it was a bit risky for you to have sent just 3 letters to ALL the schools you applied to without checking each school's LOR requirement? You just wasted your money applying to schools that required more than 3 LORs.

Well now that I think about it all schools sent me a letter/email saying my app was complete with them. I actually don't know what schools want more than three that appears to be the standard to me. As far as wasting money not really I'm in.